Music Trade Review

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52
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
CONDUCTED BY B. B. WILSON
PRICES STILL GOING UP
TO CURB COPYRIGHT INFR1NGERS
TED BARRON'S SONG USED
Paper and Ink Rapidly Increasing in Price,
and Music Publishers Are Seeking to Econ-
omize in Every Way Possible
Publishers Seek to Stop Practice of Printing
the Words of Popular Songs on the Back of
Throwaways—Seek to Restrain Vendors Also
At Recent Ceremonies in Connection With the
Illumination of the Statue of Liberty
From the announcement just received by local
music publishers, the indications are that the
already high prices of paper and ink will stiffen
considerably in the very near future.
Every-
thing used in connection with the music publish-
ing business is much higher than it was in
July. Some of the mills have made advances
in wages alone of from 40 per cent, to 45 per
cent, in the last fourteen months.
They
claim that in view of this fact and with the
increased cost of pulp and bleaching materials,
there is no relief in sight, and that much higher
prices for paper must be expected for the com-
ing season.
In view of these prevailing conditions, the
music dealer can look forward to one of two
things, either that the publishers lower the qual-
ity of the paper stock they use and eliminate
color work on title pages as much as possible,
or, on the other hand, materially increase the
wholesale music prices for their own protec-
tion. There is no middle course. Those ac-
quainted with trade conditions know that the
majority of the publishers have endeavored to
economize in every case where they could do
so safely. They have cut down overhead ex-
penses in all departments; have eliminated ex-
tra music sheets wherever possible, or have
simplified cover designs. But these economies
do not in any material degree offset the in-
creased production expense, and if wholesale
music prices are increased to the dealer there
is no reason in the world why he should not
pass the increase along.
If one dealer must pay increased prices for
his music, he knows that the competing dealers
are in the same boat. So far as the public is
concerned it has apparently become reconciled
to higher prices in everything, clothing, food,
or luxuries. If there ever was a proper time
to put over price increases this is the time,
especially when such an increase is logical and
necessary. Many piano manufacturers have been
compelled to raise their prices from $25 to
$100 on an instrument, because it costs more to
make the instrument.
Why should the pub-
lisher of music who plays on those pianos be
compelled to suffer loss by meeting increased
production costs out of his already narrow mar-
gin of profit?
Efforts are now being made by a prominent
publisher to put an end to the abuse of copy-
righted songs, by printers in the larger cities
of the country, who are in the habit of print-
ing the first verse and chorus of song hits on
the back of cards which announce the dates
of balls, parties and other entertainments. As
there is a penalty of $1 for each card printed
without the publisher's consent, it is thought
that evil will be stamped out shortly.
Every printer in the city of St. Louis was
recently notified that certain publishers would
no longer wink at the above abuse, and at the
same time were made aware of the penalty the
law calls for in such cases.
At about the same time that the above ac-
tion was taken by the publisher, a legal repre-
sentative of the concern in Philadelphia was
notified to take measures to bring to justice a
flagrant case of the abuse of publisher's rights
in that city. The case is one where a street
vendor has the verse and chorus of all the
popular hits of the day printed on one or two
sheets of paper, and sells the same in front
of theatres and ten-cent stores.
ARRANGE FOR REPRESENTATIVES
Jack Norworth to Represent Wm. Jerome Pub.
Corp. in England—Offices in Chicago
The Wm. Jerome Publishing Corp. have made
arrangements with Jack Norworth to act as
the London representative of that firm upon
his return to Europe. Arrangements are also
being made by William Jerome for a Western
representative, whose headquarters will be in
Chicago. Among the latest additions to the
Wm. Jerome Publishing Corp. catalog are
"Love and You," "My Boy," and a new instru-
mental number, "Donkey Trot."
"You're as Dear to Me as Dixie Was to Lee,"
the song from which William Jerome, in con-
junction with the Campbell Sisters, is allowing
a royalty to the Actors' Fund, is having a good
sale throughout the country.
ROSSITER OPENSJ;HICAGO OFFICE
Harold Rossiter, according to reports from
Chicago, is again back in the publishing game.
He has opened up offices in the Randolph Build-
ing under the managership of Milton Weil, who
was associated with him before his retirement
from the popular publishing business.
Consult the universal Want Directory of
The Review. In it advertisements are inserted
free of charge for men who desire positions
of any kind.
Ted Barron, well-known popular song writer,
had the honor of being one of the invited guests
at the recent dinner given to President Wilson
at the Waldorf Astoria in honor of the illumi-
nation of the Statue of Liberty.
While Mr. Barron has written scores of songs,
none has gained greater popularity than his
song "L-i-b-e-r-t-y," which has been adopted
as the official song of numerous civic and patri-
otic organizations, and was the official song of
the Statue of Liberty illumination fund. Dur-
ing the ceremonies attending the first illumi-
nation of the Statue of Liberty, Miss Rose La
Harte, formerly prima donna of the New York
Hippodrome sang "L-i-b-e-r-t-y," and for the
special occasion an additional verse, written by
Mr. Barron entitled, "Wilson Means L-i
b-e-r-t-y" was sung.
NEW DITSOIS^ PUBLICATIONS
The latest additions to the famous Ditson
edition, published by the Oliver Ditson Co.,
Boston, include two volumes, each containing
Twenty Elementary Vocalises, by S. Marchesi,
one for high and the other for low voice and
books two and three of the "Practical Violin
School," by Carl Henning, and edited by Franz
T. Bornsclu-in. The Practical Violin School
has been particularly well received, owing to
the comprehensive character of the instruction
and exercises it offers.
THANK
We wish t o
extend to the
Music Publish-
ers our Hearti-
est Thanks for
the business re-
ceived during
the past year
Wishing you
a Merry Xmas
and a Happy
and prosperous
New\fear
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